Derbyshire Senior Sunday Cup 2nd Round.
AFC Walton......7 Maypole F.C. (Derby)....4
Both teams played thier part in a pulsating Derbyshire Sunday Cup at Rother Rec today (sunday). Benny kept faith with the same starting 11 that had demolished Hady Bridge in the league just 7 days ago. Maypole were first to carve out a clear chance on 3 mins, a weak Goodwin headed clearance fell nice just outside the box, but Furniss made a superb full length diving save as the striker smashed the chance goalwards. The keeper however was at fault for the opening goal just 6 minutes later, Bettney reacted to a call from the onrushing keeper and allowed the ball through, the visitors striker looked as though he was going to make up the ground, and in making his challenge Furniss felled the striker in the box. The Referee promptly booked the Keeper and pointed to the spot. The striker stepped up to crash the spot kick home. AFC's reply was almost instant, Bennett swung in a ball to the back post, it caused a scramble in the Maypole box, with the keeper pulling off a fine double save before MITCHELL crashed the ball home with his 2nd attempt.
The hosts grabbed the lead on 22 mins, a crisp long pass from Walton set LYTHAM clear, he raced onto the pass before slpping the ball under the keeper. He put clear blue water between the sides on 24 mins, a missile of a long throw from Spencer arrowed into he box and LYTHAM climbed highest to nod home his 18th goal of the season. The game was end to end at this point with both sides carving out good scoring chances. Goodwin thought he had grabbed AFC's fourth when he directed a rasping Megyesi goalbound shot with a smart header, but he was ruled just offside. Brown was robbed of the ball as he dallied in midfield and the visitors broke quickly, but the striker rushed his shot and it flew over the bar. They went close with 5 mins remaining, the visitors striker twisted and turned in the box before pulling his shot wide of the target. From Bettneys long goalkick, Lytham moved smartly onto the ball, but put his chance well over the bar when well placed. AFC ended the half in emphatic style with the goal of the game, Mitchell trapping the ball before setting Brown free up the wing, he skipped past his marker before putting over a fine cross to the back post, where WRIGHT powered home a superb diving header. Furniss had to be at his best straight from the restart, Bettney stepped up trying to play offside and Furniss making a fine block to thwart the strikers run. They went close again with seconds of the half remaining, the striker well placed pulled his shot across goal, but inches wide of the post. HALF TIME AFC Walton...4 Maypole F.C....1.
Maypole kicked off the second half full of purpose, and reduced the arrears almost immediatly, a ball up the left wing saw a pinpoint cross into the box, and the striker got across his marker to fire past Furniss. AFC returned the goal with interest from the restart, Bettney picked out Lythams run and he crossed the ball for MITCHELL to twist and turn the defenders and fire the ball home. Maypole went close again in a frantic opening 5 mins to the half, another move up the line saw a cross to the back post, and although the lad was unmarked and well placed he could only direct his header back across goal, and the chance was wasted. Mitchell went close to his hat-trick moments later, a Bettney pass saw him twist and turn again in the box, but this time he scuffed his shot wide. It only took him a minute however to put the matter right and take the wind out of the visitors sails, a crisp pass through saw MITCHELL race onto the ball and slip it past the keeper and into the net. With the game comfortable Benny then took the chace to introduce fresh legs, swapping Bennett for Mason. On the hour the striker could have added to his tally after being picked out by a Lytham cross, after a fine through ball from Walton, but again he scuffed his chance and the ball was grabbed by the relieved keeper. The visitors keeper blotted his copy book 5 mins later however, when the watching punters were treated to the strange sight of BOTH keepers recieving a yellow card in the same game for fouls, this time Spencer needed treatment after an ill timed lunge ended his progress in the box. The usually 'dead eye from the spot' Mitchell struck the spot kick well, and despite the keeper diving kept his foot high and made a smart save, kicking the spot kick away.Paul Walton was then introduced to the fray to record his 100th game for the club and become only the SIXTH player to achive that tally. He almost made an instant impact busying himself on the attack from the off. Chances came and went again for both sides who were visibly tiring, but AFC were encouraged to stay focussed willed on by MOTM Shaun Goodwin who was immense all over the park. Benny then played his final card in his pack, bringing on the 'returning from illness' Silcock for the tireless Danny Brown who had put in another great shift for the team.Lee Walton went agonisingly close with a rasping 25 yard strike after being found by a Bettney corner, he put his foot through the ball, but it crashed back off the post with the defence and keeper well beaten.
AFC well and truly took thier eye off the ball for a good 5 minutes, obviously, wrongly thinking the game was over, a cross into the box was punched, rather than grabbed by Furniss, but the ball fell well short of its intended target, and was returned with interest into the Hosts goal. Maypole grabbed another goal giving themselves a glimmer of hope, a cross into the box was headed smartly home to give the score a nervous looking 6-4. AFC pushed forward again to stem the visitors flow Mason looking particularly dangerous racing beyond defenders down the right wing. The visitors resistance was finally broken with just 4 mins remaining Lytham cutting inside after a Goodwin pass sent him clear, he picked out the run of MITCHELL into the box, and the big striker capped a wonderfull performance off, holding his nerve, and slipping the ball past the keepers despairing dive. This game was end to end, with BOTH sides playing thier part, and was a fine spectacle for The DSS Cup competition.. FINAL SCORE AFC Walton...7 Maypole F.C....4 AFC now go on to take thier place 16 of the competition, the draw which will be placed on this site when known..
